äänennopeus

The speed of sound, or äänennopeus in Finnish, refers to the distance that a sound wave travels per unit of time as it propagates through an elastic medium. It is a characteristic property of the medium itself. The speed of sound in a gas is dependent on the gas's temperature and composition, and is also influenced by humidity. In liquids, the speed of sound is generally higher than in gases, and in solids, it is typically even higher.

The speed of sound is not constant and varies with the properties of the medium through which it travels. For instance, sound travels faster in warmer air than in colder air. The speed of sound in dry air at 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) is approximately 343 meters per second (1,125 feet per second). In water, the speed of sound is around 1,482 meters per second (4,862 feet per second), and in steel, it is about 5,960 meters per second (19,554 feet per second).

Understanding the speed of sound is crucial in various scientific and engineering fields, including acoustics, seismology, and aerospace. It plays a role in phenomena like echoes, sonic booms, and the design of musical instruments. The speed of sound is also a fundamental concept in physics, illustrating the wave nature of sound and its interaction with matter.